How long - to sing the song of Jonah?

Yesterday Audrey Hindes did a wonderful job walking our congregation through Jonah, chapter 2. In this chapter we find a song of thanksgiving almost identical to those in Psalms. The surprise is that Jonah composes it in the belly of the whale! We learn that the whale is not a means of punishment, but a vessel of salvation.

Audrey reminded us to recall a movie that I have seen a countless number of times with my small children - Finding Nemo. Remember when the whale swallows Marlin and Dory? Though they are fearful, it carries them right to the place they need to be. Seem a bit trite? Ask again, "How could Jonah be composing a song of thanksgiving from inside the fish?" In Jonah's prayer we get the full spectrum of fear, distress, trust and thanksgiving. Then "...the LORD God commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land" (2:10). The prophet's next move was to declare God's message to all who would listen.

Imagine, the very thing that causes discouragement and pain could be the vehicle that brings us to the very place God wants us to be. If we could only learn the lesson of the psalmist (in this case Jonah) and give thanks, not as an afterthought, but as we are on the journey. I wonder, do those who forget to give thanks "forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (2:8)?

As a response to the message we recited the prayer of Jonah and then sang U2's "40". It was a great opportunity to teach our congregation a contemporary psalm of thanksgiving while reflecting on an ancient one.

Jonah's Prayer (2:1-9, NIV)

1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said:
       "In my distress I called to the LORD,
       and he answered me.
       From the depths of the grave I called for help,
       and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the deep,
       into the very heart of the seas,
       and the currents swirled about me;
       all your waves and breakers
       swept over me.

4 I said, 'I have been banished
       from your sight;
       yet I will look again
       toward your holy temple.'

5 The engulfing waters threatened me,
       the deep surrounded me;
       seaweed was wrapped around my head.

6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
       the earth beneath barred me in forever.
       But you brought my life up from the pit,
       O LORD my God.

7 "When my life was ebbing away,
       I remembered you, LORD,
       and my prayer rose to you,
       to your holy temple.

8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
       forfeit the grace that could be theirs.

9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
       will sacrifice to you.
       What I have vowed I will make good.
       Salvation comes from the LORD."

40

I waited patiently for the Lord,
He inclined and heard my cry.
He lifted me up out of the pit,
Out of the miry clay.

I will sing, sing a new song,
I will sing, sing a new song.
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long, how long,
How long to sing this song?

You set my feet upon a rock,
And made my footsteps firm.
Many will see,
many will see and hear

I will sing, sing a new song,
I will sing, sing a new song.
How long to sing this song?
How long to sing this song?
How long, how long, how long,
How long to sing this song?

Comments

[edward]

i figure you know this already, but u2's 40 is an abridged psalm 40